Saipan Tribune

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Friday, November 16, 2012

Local job seekers complete SHRM grant program

The Society for Human Resource Management's Workforce Readiness Initiative has graduated its third group of administrative trainees seeking positions as hotel front desk clerks, administrative clerks, and receptionists.

This was the Initiative's ninth program, graduating 18 trainees on Nov. 2, completing a week of job preparation and administrative skills in their efforts to prepare themselves for employment in the CNMI's private sector. This group of job seekers, referred by the CNMI Department of Labor and the Workforce Investment Act Office received 40 hours of training during the week of Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, with hotel front desk, receptionist, and general administrative clerk skills, plus basic computer and cashiering skills.

“Hotels and private companies all have a need for administrative staff,” said Frank Gibson, Initiative program manager for SHRM and owner of the consulting company HR Support, CNMI. “This was a good group of trainees who will do well in filling the needs of CNMI employers for administrative staff. Many of our trainees had some previous administrative work experience, but some are just entering the workforce. The training they received will give them a better understanding of what to expect on the job and provided some basic skills to make the company's training and orientation easier and more effective. Most of the trainees are also eligible for support from the WIA Work Experience or On-the-Job-Training Programs.

“Our trainees are going out to businesses and applying for positions. They will have résumés prepared as part of this program and a certificate of participation. I hope our businesses will recognize the potential of these applicants and give them an opportunity to show their capabilities. They received good solid training from knowledgeable and experienced instructors from the business community. They will all do well and I urge employers to contact the Initiative office at 233-7476, or me personally, at 287-7476, to arrange for interviews.”

The ninth Initiative program participants were Mary Alexander, Jenica Amancio, Karen Amirez, Carmen Babauta, Daisy Borja, Russell Camacho, Zenia Castro, Antonette, Deleon Guerrero, Julian Igisaiar,. Jurena Igisaiar, Travis Igisaiar, Ambrosio Lisua, Veronica Lisua, Sylvestria Nugam, Vanessa Olopai, Lupe Taman, Remy Villagomez, and Marilyn Nekaifes.

The hotel front desk clerk and administrative clerk program included job preparation classes on job applications and résumés, job interviews, equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and employer expectations. Skills training classes were provided on customer service, hotel front desk clerk services, general administrative, receptionist and clerical duties, basic computer concepts, basic cashiering concepts, and hotel operations.

Gibson said the success of the program was also due to the professional skills and the interest of the instructors: Polly DLG Masga and Evan Hunsberger from PIC, Jim Arenovski from Delta Management, Malou Ernest from Tan Holdings, Josephine Mesta from Hyatt Regency Saipan, Jill Arenovski from Seafix, Inc., Nat Angeles and Soc Nilo Villanueva, also from Tan Holdings.

The Workforce Readiness Initiative program is funded by a grant awarded to the CNMI SHRM by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the CNMI Department of Commerce in support of the CNMI Economic and Labor Enhancement Program. This initiative started on April 16 with a one-week warehouseman training program, is currently providing training to its tenth program for food service/wait staff workers, and will next repeat the warehousing program, running Monday, Nov. 26, through Friday, Nov. 30.

The Workforce Readiness Initiative is for the benefit of unemployed U.S. qualified workers. Qualified individuals who are registered with WIA or the DOL Employment Services should contact those offices and let them know of their interest. Those who are not registered and are interested in joining one of the Initiative programs should immediately register with WIA and express their interest. All interested candidates should sign up with WIA to allow them to help employers with funding of Initiative graduates. Interested individuals can also contact Gibson by e-mail at hrsupportcnmi@gmail.com.

Although the Initiative does not guarantee a job for every participant, it will make every effort to get each graduate employed. Several companies have already committed to accepting Initiative graduates and the Initiative will continue to source jobs through its SHRM-member companies and other employers. Companies interested in considering Initiative graduates can also contact Gibson.

This program is supported by federal funds in the amount of $102,000 under the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, CNMI Economic and Labor Enhancement Program through a sub-grant award to the CNMI Chapter of the Society of Human Resources from the CNMI Department of Commerce. The CNMI SHRM Initiative is managed by HR Support, CNMI, a CNMI-licensed Human Resource Management consulting and training company. (SHRM)